A Story from Chandogya Upanishad Which Explains the ONE behind the Many

After studying for twelve years, Svetaketu returned home conceited and arrogant about the knowledge he had acquired. Seeing, this his father Aruni asked him if he had been taught about the ONE behind the many, seeing which one sees all, hearing which one hears all, and knowing which one knows everything.

When Svetaketu confessed his ignorance, the father explained how knowing one sample of clay one knows all its modifications. Aruni then ordered his son to bring a fruit of the banyan tree and cut it open. ‘What do you see?’ asked the father.

‘Atom-like seeds’, said the son

Aruni then asked the son to break one of the seeds and again asked ‘What do you see now?’ ‘Nothing whatever, said the son.

‘From this atom-like seed sprouts the huge banyan tree,’ Aruni explained. ‘In the same manner, from the atom-like subtle essence of Pure Being the whole gross material universe characterized by name and form Becomes. Have faith and your mind will realize the Truth and grasp the meaning.’